2016 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen problems and recalls

Owners have filed 56 complaints on the 2016 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, and NHTSA has issued 3 recalls. The most cited component is the Air Bags (18 complaints).

56
Complaints
3
Recalls
3
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
0
Injuries
46.8
Severity index

Severity index 46.8 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 46.8p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 106 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 25% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Air BagsAir Bags: 18 complaints (32.1%)18 32%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 12 complaints (21.4%)12 21%EngineEngine: 9 complaints (16.1%)9 16%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 7 complaints (12.5%)7 12%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 6 complaints (10.7%)6 11%SuspensionSuspension: 6 complaints (10.7%)6 11%Power TrainPower Train: 4 complaints (7.1%)4 7%Fuel SystemFuel System: 3 complaints (5.4%)3 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
AIR BAGS1832.1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1221.4%
ENGINE916.1%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM712.5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM610.7%
SUSPENSION610.7%
POWER TRAIN47.1%
FUEL SYSTEM35.4%

Complaints filed per year

06112018: 52019: 112020: 112021: 62022: 42023: 82024: 62025: 42026: 1 (partial year)18191120212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20185
201911
202011
20216
20224
20238
20246
20254
2026 (year to date)1
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (18 against 21).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V46400011/07/2018STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICEVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Volkswagen Golf and Golf Sportwagen vehicles. The build of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition while the vehicle shift lever is not in "
22V54300027/07/2022AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, S3 Sedan, R8 Coupe, A3 Sedan, A3 Etron, A3 Cabriolet, 2016 Golf Sportwagen, Golf R, Golf GTI, Golf A7, and E Golf vehicles. During air bag deployment, the front passenger air bag
24V11000014/02/2024FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 20

Other Volkswagen Golf SportWagen model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 4 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-08. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.